Aviation Support Ship - ASS

(Archived January 2005.  Proposed but never approved. 
In 2007 RFA Argus received a £12 million refit to help extend
her operational life to 2020)

Notes:

Project designation:  ?
Status: Not approved
In Service Date:  [2008]

Background 

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) service currently operates RFA Argus as dual-role Aviation Training Ship (ATS) and Primary Casualty Reception Ship (PCRS), but until late 2004 she was was due to leave service in 2008. 

It was apparently decided that a dedicated replacement for Argus in her ATS task could not be justified given the reduced size of the Fleet Air Arm and the advances of shore based simulators.  However Operation Iraq Freedom in 2003 highlighted (or rather re-emphasised) the need for a capable Aviation Support Ship able to support forward operating aircraft in-theatre - primarily helicopters but in the future also for vertical take-off and landing Uninhabited Air Vehicles (VTOL UAVs).  An ASS would also be able to provide a useful second-line training aviation capability when not required for other tasks. 

It was also anticipated that Argus would be replaced in her "hospital ship" role by a new Joint Casualty Treatment Ship (JCTS) from 2005.  This has not happened and although for a while there were still plans for a new build JCTS to enter service in 2012, the funding (less than £100 million) was apparently diverted in 2005 to keeping RFA Argus in service. 

Although the RN was enthusiastic about ASS, or even better a second LPH to partner HMS Ocean, in late 2004 the MOD decided that the funding was simply not available for a new ASS - even if it was combined with the JCTS requirement.  RFA Argus will now remain in service until 2020 as a PCRS and ATS.  The forward aviation role will eventually be fulfilled by the planned MARS project, several units of which will be fitted with extensive aviation facilities.

Requirement

The ASS requirement was driven by a shortage of RN and RFA naval platforms able to operate and maintain large helicopters, in particular RAF Chinook HC.2/2A's which can only be based on HMS Ocean and the Invincible Class CVS's.  However the RN and RFA have an increasing number of platforms such as the Albion class LPD's and the Bay class LSD(A)'s that have a flight deck large enough for Merlin or Chinook size helicopter, but no hanger or maintenance facilities.  On 7 April 2004 the United Kingdom's  National Audit Office (NAO) published a report entitled “Ministry of Defence: Battlefield Helicopter” which investigated the way in which the UK's armed forces operate helicopters in support of land, amphibious, and Special Forces' operations.  It noted:

A recent [Ministry of Defence] Departmental study concluded that there is currently  … an 87 per cent shortfall in ship-optimised support helicopter lift. Primarily, the latter deficit is a manifestation of a changed strategic environment over the past decade, which has generated a greater requirement to undertake littoral operations. According to the Department, the shortfall in ship-optimised lift will remain until 2018.”

The shortfall is believed to be determined more by a shortage of ship platforms rather than helicopters.  Procurement of a next generation Aviation Support Ship to replace RFA Argus represented a key part of the MOD's strategy to cost-effectively close this important gap in its expeditionary capability in the medium-term (2008-2010), rather than in long-term (2015-2018) when the future aircraft carriers and projected new LPH/D's are expected to enter service.

The ASS requirement had three key drivers:

1. A shortage of RN and RFA naval platforms that are able to operate and maintain heavy lift helicopters, in particular RAF operated Chinook HC.2/2A's which can only be based on the LPH HMS Ocean and the three Invincible class aircraft carriers.  This shortage would be worsened by the withdrawal from service of RFA Argus without replacement.
2. The RN and RFA are currently accepting in to service platforms such as the two Albion class LPD's and the four Bay class LSD(A)'s that have a flight deck large enough for Chinook sized helicopter, but no hanger or maintenance facilities,
3. The Support Amphibious and Battlefield Rotorcraft (SABR) project was expected to select the large Boeing CH-47 Chinook as the replacement, at least partially, for existing medium size transport helicopters such as the RN’s Sea King HC4.  

In order to help provide the necessary budget for ASS, it was during 2004 considered whether the requirement could be combined with JCTS.  If the ASS requirement had been combined with the JCTS requirement, the design would have included extensive permanent “hospital ship” type medical facilities: 100-150 beds; Intensive and High Dependency Units;  Operating Theatres; Triage Area; Resuscitation Bays; Medical Laboratory and Imaging Facilities (X-Ray, CT Scan, Ultrasound).

Design